The Kogi State Police Command, paraded two suspects today who reportedly confessed to be members of an armed gang terrorizing Kogi State, with weapons and financial support by Senator Dino Melaye.
It was gathered that the parading of the suspects identified as Kabiru Saidu and Nuru Salisu who were also identified by some of their victims., might further complicate the ongoing political crisis that has seen Senator Dino Melayerepresenting Kogi West in the red chamber, and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State enmeshed in bitter confrontations over the state’s political structure.
Police spokesperson Jimoh Moshood, told newsmen that the gang leader Kabiru Saidu a.k.a OSAMA “31 YRS” has been working as a Political thug, for one Alh. Mohammed Audu a Politician in the State. Moshood further told newsmen that the suspect said, that Alh. Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met on Airport road, Abuja inside the Senator Dino Melaye’s Car in the month of December, 2017.
“The suspect further confessed that Melaye told him that they should start working for the senator as his political thugs and they should recruit and train more other thugs to work for him in preparation towards 2019 general election to enable him to challenge his political opponents and disorganise Kogi state” Moshood said.
The gang leader also confessed that the senator, gave them one AK47 rifle, two pump action guns and N430,000.
Moshood disclosed that following the indictment of Melaye and criminal confessions against him, the force had written the Senate president requesting him to release Melaye to report to the Kogi State command of the police on March 7, to enable the police to investigate the issue. However, the senator had since refused to honour the police invitation, while a case of criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms had been filed against the two suspects at the Federal High Court Lokoja.
When contacted by newsmen, Senator Dino Melaye denied the charges, saying it was a framed up and an orchestrated attempt by the state government to discredit him.
